Detectives today made a direct appeal for him to come forward, but gave few details about his relationship with the young bride.

His daughter was discovered at their home in Huthwaite at 1pm last Friday by her new husband, 22-year-old, Lee Taylor, who spoke today of his loss.

Neighbours are reported to have heard a row at the home on Thursday night followed by a couple of loud bangs.

Her grieving husband Mr Taylor said: "We were a newly-married couple and I am devastated with regards to the death of my wife, Chanel.

"We were very happy and looking forward to a long life together. Tragically this will no longer happen."

The friend of Mrs Taylor said she had become very close to the young hairdresser until her father moved back into the family home in South Normanton, near Mansfield, four years ago.

She said until that point, Mrs Taylor had lived with her mother, Anne, and worked happily at a hairdressing salon.

The woman, who chose the young trainee to be her bridesmaid for her wedding, said everything changed when her father returned from a spell away from the home and moved back in.

Sad loss

She said: "We got really close friends but when her father came back to live there she seemed to change. She became very withdrawn.

"She did change when her father came back to live there - she was very upset. I don't think she would put a step wrong with him around. She turned against me and disputed her hours of work.

"She didn't come back and I think that the reason was partly to do with family influence. I don't think he liked her working. Things got so bad. She was not very happy with her family.

"I offered her a home at my house - that's how bad it got."

She added: "When she left her job she seemed to be under a lot of influence not to come back to work. She told me she would never leave me and she did. It was just a sad end to a really good friendship."

Mrs Taylor started working at the hairdressing salon when she was just a teenager.

She had left school some months before and threw herself into her new job, her employer said.

She said: "I think it is a sad loss of a young life. If she had kept on as a hairdresser we probably would still have her here today."

Mr Rodgers is described as white, 5ft 10ins and stocky, with a shaved head. He has a tattoo of a flower on his right forearm and a dagger and the name "Christine" on his left forearm.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokeswoman said that no weapon had been found in relation to the murder.

• Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 0115 9670999 ext. 2742/2743, or alternatively ring Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.